Re-establishment of Malankara Indian Orthodox Church

     Re-establishment of Malankara Indian Orthodox Church

This is a significant year for the Malankara Orthodox Church. We are celebrating the centenary of the re-establishment of the Catholicate  of the East in India. Some people due to their Lack of Understanding and many outside elements say that it is the 100th year of establishment of the Malankara Orthodox Church. It is as good as saying India was established 65 years back in 1947. In 1947, India became independent from foreign rule and had a government of its own to look after the affairs of the nation. Likewise the church existed before 1912, but the spiritual authority was established here, after which we do not need to depend on any foreign power for our spiritual needs. Here, the word reestablishment word is being used and not establishment. That we didn’t create anything out of blue. It existed somewhere else, it was re-established here.

We are all aware that St Thomas, the apostle commissioned by the Lord, spread the gospel in the east i.e Persia and India. Hence he can be rightly called as the Metropolitan of the East. St Thomas came in India in AD 52 and established our Church. From that period of time History of Malankara Indian Orthodox Church faced many wax and wanes. After the arrival of Portuguese in 15th centaury the Roman Catholic Church forced us to become a part of Roman catholic Church through the Most Infamous synod in the History of World Christianity, The synod of Udayamperoor. But we fought back in 1653 and pledged the famous “Koonen Kurish satyam”.  From their onwards the church prevailed and proliferated. In 1815 founded the first Theological school in Asia, Kottayam Old Seminary. Leaded by some of the most iconic personality of Indian Christianity. St Gregorius of Parumala, Pulikootil Joseph Mar Dionysius, Chepad Thirumeni played an Important role in shaping our Liturgy and tradition.

Patriach Abdulla came to Malankara, for the first time , not in 1909, but in 1876, as Metropolitan Abdulla Gregorius, along with Patriach Peter 3rd . He was infamous for his greed for money. In 1905 after the withdrawal  of Abded Messiah by Turkey sultan, Abdulla  came back from catholic church and became the Patriach. It is said that he paid huge amount for the remove Abded Messiah’s firman. In 1909 he came back to India. Right away his greed became obvious. He wanted all the Churches in Malankara to accept his supremacy. Majority of delegates clearly stated that the Patriach’s demand cannot be accepted.

Then he made another attempt to get temporal power. That is where the actual turn over started. Malankara Metroploitan , Vatteserril Thirumeni (StDionysius) was brave enough to say a big ‘No’. The furious Patriach gave threats of excommunication. But Still Vatteserril Thirumeni stood his ground.  The Patriarch the visited churches asking the to give written acceptance. Many Parishes gave acceptance while other did not. Patriarch also introduced another guileful tactic to get support. He offered Episcopal position and otherordinations to certain individual if they accepted his supremacy.

Even though Vatteseril thirumeni refused to sign the deed, he still respected the position of the Patriarch. He Instructed every churches to give him reception suiting that of Patriarch. But he never accepted his deed.  Outside, the party supporting the Malanakra Metropolitan Vatteserril thirumeni came to known as “Metran Faction” and the party supporting the Patriarch came to be known as “Bava Faction”. On 29th Idavom 1911, the Patriarch wrote a bull excommunicating Vattaserril Thirumeni.  Hearing this , a large number of believers gathered for the Holy Qurbana in Old Seminary. C.J Kurian sent a note inside Madbaha to Patriarch Abdulla not to read the bull (kalpana) because the believers may turn on them. So Patriach didn’t read the bull. And crowd chanted “these cheers to Mar Dionysius. The Metropolitan of Malanakara”. But Later on Patriarch sent the excommunication bull for Vatteserril thirumeni  to all the church and our Vatteserril thirumeni was excommunicated from Malanakara .

Despite the huge support that he got, Vatteserril thirumeni was well aware of the long term impact that this feud would have on the Church. He never wanted the Malanakra Church to be divided. He even pleaded kissed Patriarch’s feet and said weeping that he was ready to face humiliation and excommunication but don’t let the Church divide.  The Patriarch then demanded him to accept his supremacy. Vatteserril thirumeni replied”My conscience doesnot allow me to do so. How can I betray my church”.

In 1912, Vatteserril thirumeni along with excommunicated Canonized Patriarch Abded messiah re -established the Malanakra Indian Orthodox Church. After all this turmoil interfered, the Church consecrated the senior metropolitan as its head with the name Catholicose. H.H Mar Baselious Paulose1 was our first catholicose.

After the demise of the Catholicose Baselicose Paulose I, the Bishops in Malankara together with Mar Dionysius VI concentrated the second Catholicos with the name Baselius Geevarghese 1, Then Baselius Geevarghese 2 was elevated as his successor. The Patriarchal group questioned the validity of the Catholicate in law courts and the litigation went on up to the Supreme Court. In September 12, 1958, the constitutional bench of the supreme court of India recognized the validity of the Catholicate and unanimously declared that the Patriarch of Antioch does not have any authority over the Malankara church and that the Indian church is completely free under the Catholicos of the East. Moved by the final judgment of the Supreme Court of India, the Patriarch's group unanimously recommended to the Patriarch Ignatius Yacob III to accept the Catholicos as the head of the Indian church. In December 1958, the Patriarch and the Catholicos subjected to the constitution of the Malankara church and accepted each other by exchanging letters.After 1965 again the church got divided. Till now both these churches are having many issues. Spiritually both are same . We can only hope and pray for the  union of these Churches.

Malankara Indian Church as Stated by India’s First Prime minister, is as old as the Christianity itself. Our fore fathers have gifted this Church after so much suffering.  The Catholicate in India was a growth and development through centuries within the Malankara Church. Malankara Orthodox Church is a prominent house of worship of the Syrians Christians who have a history of nearly 2000 years in India. The centenary celebration of the church is expected to showcase the historical and cultural significance of the church and its people. Let’s keep this centuries old Tradition and faith in our Prayers.

JAI JAI CATHOLICOSE …………..


References: Article by Mr Kiran Raj (mgocsmdiaspora.org)